Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying

…what the new law means for school policies

procedures stakeholders

a presentation for the Montville Township Board of Education, June 28, 2011

bkg 6-28-11

the new law—purpose

“…to strengthen standards for preventing, reporting, investigating, and responding to incidents of bullying”*

“…to reduce the risk of suicide among students”*

*taken from the presentation “An Overview of Amendments to New Jersey Laws on Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying” which was largely adapted from materials prepared by the Rutgers Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Project in cooperation with the NJ Department of Education

• Definition• District staff functions• Policies and procedures/regulations• Programs• Training• Reporting

the new law—major changes

Definition• District staff functions• Policies and procedures/regulations• Programs• Training• Reporting

the new law—major changes

…Any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication• single incident or series of incidents• reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual

or perceived characteristic such as:race sexual orientationgender gender identity and expressioncolor mental, physical or sensory disabilityancestry religionnational origin

• or by any other distinguishing characteristic…

the new law—definition of HIB

…that takes place on school propertyat any school-sponsored functionon a school busoff school grounds

…that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students, and that…

the new law—definition of HIB

…a reasonable person should know under the circumstances the act will have the effect of: physically or emotionally harming a pupil or damaging the

pupil’s property; or placing a pupil in reasonable fear of physical or emotional

harm to his/her person or damage to property; or insulting or demeaning any pupil or group of pupils; or creating a hostile educational environment for the pupil:

by interfering with a pupil’s education, or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the pupil

the new law—definition of HIB

• DefinitionDistrict staff functions• Policies and procedures/regulations• Programs• Training• Reporting

the new law—major changes

District Anti-Bullying Coordinator• Responsible for data collection/reporting• Coordinates District HIB efforts

School Anti-Bullying Specialists• Chairs school safety team• Leads investigation of reported HIB incidents

School Safety Teams• Develops, fosters, and maintains a positive school climate• Receives HIB complaints/identifies patterns of HIB in school• Principal/designee, teacher, school anti-bullying specialist, parent, others

the new law—Staff Functions

• Definition• District staff functionsPolicies and procedures/regulations• Programs• Training• Reporting

the new law—major changes

Policy includes: Statement prohibiting HIB of a student New definition of HIB Description of behavior expected from students in a

Board-approved Code of Pupil Conduct Consequences and appropriate remedial actions for a

person committing an act of HIB Includes acts of HIB by teachers or other staff towards students Takes into account the developmental ages of pupils, severity of

offenses, and pupils’ histories of inappropriate behaviors

the new law—policies/procedures

Policy includes (continued): Procedure for prompt reporting

Must be reported verbally to the principal on the same day when witnessed or reliable information received;

May be reported anonymously—however, formal disciplinary action is not permitted solely on the basis of an anonymous report;

Principal informs parents of all students involved of alleged incident, including the availability of counseling and other intervention services;

Must be reported in writing to the principal within two school days of verbal report

the new law—policies/procedures

Policy includes (continued): A procedure for prompt investigation of reports of

violations and complaints, which procedure shall, at a minimum, provide that: Investigation is initiated within one school day of verbal report; Investigation is conducted by the anti-bullying specialist (and

additional people at principal’s discretion); Investigation is completed no later than 10 days from date of

written report; Reports may come from Board of Education members, school

employees, contracted service providers, students, or volunteers

May report to any school administrator

the new law—policies/procedures

Policy includes (continued): An investigation procedure outlining reporting of results,

consequences (if appropriate), procedures to be followed if a hearing or appeal is desired.

The range of ways in which a school will respond when an incident of HIB is identified, which shall be defined by the principal in conjunction with the anti-bullying specialist, but shall include an appropriate combination of counseling, support services, intervention services, and other programs, including responses for incidents that may occur off school grounds.

the new law—policies/procedures

Policy includes (continued):A statement prohibiting reprisal or retaliation against

any person for reportingA link to the policy on the homepage of the District’s

websiteAnnual distribution of policy to parents and guardiansStakeholder input into policyContact information for the District Anti-Bullying

Coordinator and School Anti-Bullying Specialists

the new law—policies/procedures

• Definition• District staff functions• Policies and procedures/regulationsPrograms• Training• Reporting

the new law—major changes

• Bullying prevention programs must be established, implemented, documented, and assessed annually– To help create school-wide conditions to prevent and

address HIB• “Week of Respect”—first Monday in October– Observed by providing age-appropriate instruction

focused on preventing HIB and continued throughout the school year in accordance with the CCCS

the new law—programs

• Definition• District staff functions• Policies and procedures/regulations• ProgramsTraining• Reporting

the new law—major changes

• “Bullying Prevention Fund” created by DOE to offer training grants to districts—NOT YET ESTABLISHED

• Training must be provided for:– Board members– School leaders– Prospective school leaders– Teachers– Prospective teachers– Staff– Volunteers who have significant contact with students– Persons contracted by the District to provide services to students– Anti-Bullying Coordinators and Specialists– NJDOE website tutorial

the new law—training

• Definition• District staff functions• Policies and procedures/regulations• Programs• TrainingReporting

the new law—major changes

• School Report Cards: number and nature of all reports• Two public hearings:

– Between 9/1 and 1/1 and between 1/1 and 6/30• Disaggregated data to include:

– Status of all investigations– Nature of the bullying– Names of the investigators– Other non-disciplinary measures imposed– Training conducted or programs implemented to reduce HIB

• Link to report on District website• Superintendent reports to DOE; DOE reports to Senate and

Assembly

the new law—reporting